Railroad-track.



F. K. HLMESTED.

RAILROAD TRACK.

APPLICATION :FILED 1330.12, 1912,

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

fg /fg reins.

FRANCIS K. HOLMESTED, OF QUINNIMONT, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD-TRACK.

nordica.

specieanon @tieners Patent.

Patented Oct. "Z, igi.

Application filed December t2, 1912. i Serial No. 736,451.

To, aZZ` whom, 2125 may concern Beit known that I, FRANCIS K. HoLMEsrnn, a subject of the King of Gtreat Britain, residing at Quinnimont, in the county of Fe.- yette and State of: `West Virginia,- have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic ties and means for separably securing rails thereto and particularly adapted for use in minesy where it is necessary to frequent-ly change the position of a track bed oppo-sing anges at the sides. By this means the tie may be readily placed and automatior to take up and relay track rails.

The primary object of the invention is to provide with a tie of a very simple construction and embodying commercial advantages to facilitate the disposition of a track at any point that may be desired and permit a readyv detachment of the railsl and displacement of the ties for installation or disposition at y other points.

The improved metallic tie and means for securing the rails, thereto embodies among reverse directions to form rail flange guards yor engaging members 8. y plate from which the fastener is formed is the other features positive characteristics of strength and durability, the entire track organization including the ties being of metal and the ties having a self-placing or embedding operation by means of a specific construction which will be hereinafter specified and thereby rendered contributory to a successful application at a minimized expense.

With these and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing: Figure l is a top` plan view of a portion of a track embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one extremity of one of the ties illustrating one of the rail fasteners in position to receive a rail flange prior to locking the latter to the tie. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rail fastener in a locking position. Fig. l is a longitudinal. vertical section through a part of one of the ties and showing the fastening means and a portion of the rail in cross-section. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the rail fastening means and the catch therefor when the fastening means is disposed to receive the rail iange.

The numeral 5 designates a tie which is a rail fastening means in connection 1 i ment, and when it is desired to remove the i track or to detach the parts thereof and dis- ,pose the ties in other places it will be seen that each tie may be readily elevated from 4the floor and transported tov` the place for constructed from suitable channel iron or other metal adapted for the purpose and of such general dimensions as to adapt the same for use in a mine. The ties are all of similar structure and will be spaced the usual distance,y and in disposing the same upon the supporting bed the {ianged portion ywill be at the bottom and the side flanges, as at 6, will be caused to embed themselves' in the floor, the said flanges holdz mg the ties; against displacement as the material of the floor will be pressed upwardly within the body of the tie between the two cally secured against movement after placefurther use as may be desired.

Each tie is equipped with similar rail fas- I tening means consisting of a flat metal plate 7 having the opposite ends bent inwardly in Primarily each of rectangular contour and of such length that a close, engagement will be insured between the inner walls of the inwardly bent guards or engaging members 8 and the opposite side edges of the base flange of the rail disposed in the fastening, and owing to the rectangular contour of the plate from which the fastener is formed the inwardly and reversely bent guards or flange engaging members 8 will be projected slightly at opposite side edges of each fastener and thereby increase the purchase or binding action of the said guards or engaging members 8 on the top surface of opposite portions of the rail flange in diagonal relation. The inwardly and rcversely bent arrangement of the guards or members 8 also gives a longer bearing between the inner surfaces of the bent walls of the said guards or members relatively to the portions of the rail flange itted therein and a positive or reliable securement of the rails on the ties is thus produced without the necessity of employing spikes or other removable fasteners for the purpose.

kOne fastener on each tie is primarily secured against movement, said fastener being generally indicated by the reference character A, whereas the opposite similar fastener, indicated generally by the reference character B, is pivoted to thetie as at 9 by a suitable pivot pin or rivet inserted through the center thereof and the center of the top of the tin, as clearly shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. pivoted fastener B is shiftablerto bring the same in proper positionfor the introduction of the rail flange therein, and afterthe rail has been engaged therewith the said fastener is swung on the tie and Vby such action the rail is simultaneously secured Vand at the same time is drawn into proper gage relan tively to the companion rail on the opposite extremity of the Atie and thus avoids any necessity of measuring or gaging the rails after they have been ydisposed in the fasteners. `When the pivoted fastener B is Vswung around into locking posit-ion relatively to the rail it is securely held against movement by a locking pin or latch projection 10 carried at one end of a spring arm or plate 11 secured to the under side of the tie at the opposite end, as at 12, the pin or projection 10 being movable through an opening 13 in the top of the tie and also adapted to engage a corresponding opening 14 in the plate or body ofthe fastener B, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4. ln order to release the pin or projection 10 from the fastener B, another opening 15 is formed in the top of the tie through which a pick point or other implement may be inserted to press the spring arm or plate 1l downwardly and correspondingly depress the said pin or projection to disengage the same from the opening 14 in the fastener, and after this release has been effected the fastener may be turned as may be desired to detach the rail therefrom. lt will be seen that the opening 15 is located close to the one bend of one of the guards or rail flange engaging members 8 so that the pick point or the blade of any other implement may be braced t-hereagainst when operating the same to depress the spring arm or plate 11.

From the foregoing it will be seen that each fastener is disposed directly upon vthe top portion of the tie, there being no devices of any description interposed between the fastener and the tie, and consequently there is no danger of a breakdown or distortion of intermediate parts and consequent modification of the track level, and the track rails will be maintained in proper relative positions in a horizontal plane with material ad vantages in the movement of rolling stock or cars thereover.

In applying the rails to the tie extremities having thereon the fixed fasteners A, each tie is turned in such posit-ion that the opening between the guards orV engaging members 8 will be disposed in the same direction `as ythe tie on which it is mounted when theV said tie is arranged transversely across the This L floor or bed upon which it ,isA disposed, and afterthe rail has been seated or pushed into the seat of each fixed fastener formed between the guards or engaging members 8,

Vthe'tie is bodily turned so as to change its ,position from longitudinal placement under Vthe rail to a direction transverse of the oor or bed or in a plane at right angles to the rail in order to bring the guards or engaging members 8 tightly over the diagonally opposite portions of the base iiange of the rail. f 1

In applying the rails to the pivoted fasteners B, the said fasteners are first turned so as to be in alinement with the top port-ions of t-he ties or transversely of the track floor or bed, and after the rails are inserted in the pivoted fasteners the latterare each turned with the rails therein to dispose the same diagonally across the top of the tie, and the instant that the opening 14 in each fastener comes over the opening 18 or registers with the latter, the pin or projection 10 of each lock will immediately snap upwardly and secure the pivoted fastener against movement and at t-he same time the rail will be drawn into proper `gage relatively to the opposing rail at the extremity of the tie and also in alinement with other railsthat may have been laid in connectionwith the pivoted fasteners. VhenV the track is taken up or disorganized, the rail engaging the pivoted fasteners will be first removed by shifting the said fasteners to release positions, as shown by Fig. 2 and afterward the remaining rail engagingthe fixed fasteners will be released by swinging the ties under the latterY rail.

ln addition to the advantages hereinabove noted the normal diagonal disposition of the rail fasteners A and B gives'an extended support tothe base flanges of the rails and consequently to the rails as an entirety in view of the fact that the opposite ends of the fasteners project over the opposite sides of the ties. f

While the improved rail fastening means and ties as thus explained are preferred for use in mine railways, it will be understood that they might be adopted in other railway constructions and facilitate the removal and replacement of rails that may become worn by a very simple operation. l/Vhat is claimed is: 1. The improvement in railroad tracks herein described comprising a tie, rail fasteners disposed on opposite extremities of and normally extending diagonally over the top ofthe tie, one fastener being normally fixed and the other pivoted on the tie, Vboth fasteners having inwardly and reversely bentvends to provide angular rail flange engaging and embracing members which respectively project beyond opposite sides of the tie when both fasteners are in normal ioo iso-

rail securing positions, and a releasable catch for automatically locking the pivoted fastener in its normal position.

2. The combination of a metal tie having a fiat top, rail faste-ners on opposite extremities thereof, one fastener being normally fixed to extend tansversely in a diagonal plane across the tie and the other fastener centrally pivoted on the tie, both fasteners being normally disposed in diagonal planes relatively to the tie and having inwardly and reversely bent extremities to form rail iiange engaging and embracing members, the bent extremities of the fasteners being respectively projected beyond opposite sides of the tie when the fasteners are in normal positions to give extended bearings for the rail flanges, the pivoted fastener having an opening therethrough in addition to the opening for the pivot thereof, and releasable catch means having a projection to engage the opening in and lock the pivoted fastener in normal position.

3. The combination of a metal tie, rail fasteners on opposite extremities of the top of the tie, and normally disposed in reverse diagonal planes relatively to the tie, the one fastener being fixed and the other fastener pivoted to the tie, each fastener primarily consisting of a rectangular metal plate and having the ends bent inwardly and reversely relatively to the plate to form rail fiange embracing members which respectively project beyond the opposite sides of the tie when the fasteners are both in normal position, and releasable catch means for automatically locking the pivoted fastener in normal position.

4. The combination of a metal tie, rail fasteners on opposite extremities thereof, one fastener being normally fixed on the tie and extending transversely across the latter in a diagonal plane and the other fastener centrally pivoted on the tie, both fasteners having inwardly and reversely bent extremities to form rail flange engaging and embracing members, and rail sections removably engaging the fasteners, the fixed fastener being associated with the one rail section by swinging the tie thereunder and the pivoted fastener caused to engage the other rail section by turning said latter fastener on the tie, both rail fasteners being in diagonal planes relatively to the top of the ie when engaging the rail sections.

5. The combination of a tie, fasteners on opposite extremities thereof having rail engaging means, one fastener being perman nently fixed on the tie and the other fastener pivoted on the tie, and readily releasable means for automatically locking the pivoted fastener when turned to a predetermined position on the tie.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS II. IAIOLMESTED. Witnesses:

Criss. S. Hrm, Criss. A. Rows.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

